“A collection of profound and epic album reviews and musical articles by former astronaut and brain surgeon, Alasdair Kennedy. Reaching levels of poetry that rival Keats and Blake, the following reviews affirm Alasdair to be a prodigy, a genius and a god whose opinion is always objectively right. He is also without a doubt the most modest man in the universe.” - Alasdair Kennedy

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Friday, 6 May 2016

BEST AND WORST NEW TRACKS OF THE WEEK 05/05/2016: Radiohead, Kehlani, Blink-182 and more...

Too busy
listening to Drizzy? Getting carried away listening to Bey? In case you missed
the fact Blink-182 and Radiohead are back, I’m here to get you up to speed (no, Blink
and Radiohead sadly haven’t teamed up for a collab, although I’m not ruling it
out as a future possibility – Metallica and Lou Reed’s Lulu proved anything is possible)

THE BEST:

'Precious Possession' - Anna Wise

Holy macaroni! This sensual slowjam is all levels of seductive from her breathy vocals, to the
slinky synths, to the raunchy video. And yet Anna Wise manages to be way more than just a sex
symbol, donning that ‘independent woman’ vibe too (listen to feminist
anthem ‘BitchSlut’ and you’ll get what I mean). Altogether, she’s like a more catchy, less creepy FKA
Twigs.

'Burn The Witch' - Radiohead

All you
whippersnappers probably won’t Remember Trumpton - that stop-motion kids show back in the
60s, back in the good ole’ days. Oh yes, I remember the show clearly (I was minus
25 years old!). Anyhow, this music video clearly takes inspiration from that
programme, although Radiohead being Radiohead obviously put their own gloomy/fucked-up
spin on things. As for the music, it certainly ticks all my boxes – Thom Yorke
laying some velvety smooth vocals over some contrarily intense staccato
strings. In other words, Radiohead are keeping things wacky.

'Vapour Trail' - Lone

After the
incredibly mellow but incredibly awesome Reality
Testing, UK producer Matt Cutler (AKA Lone) seems set on upping the pace for
his next album, having announced that he will be borrowing more from hardcore
and jungle this time around. Sporting bustling percussion, dreamy vocal samples
and woozy synths, this new house anthem seems to be implementing all of Lone’s tastiest
ingredients. I’m salivating in anticipation.

'24/7' - Kehlani

‘I don’t know nobody who
smiles at everybody 24/7’. Kehlani speaks up for all her fellow depression-sufferers, criticising
the need to mask our negative feelings with fake happiness. After attempting to take her
own life earlier this year and having since recovered, it’s nice to see Kehlani is now confronting her demons
head on. This also may well be the most positive song I know about not being
positive all the time.

'God’s Not a Dick' - 50 FT WAVE

The chick’s voice may take time to adjust to - the hoarseness reminds me of Axl Rose – but the jaunty guitar work from these US alt rockers will most certainly keep you hooked. Plus, the song title is brilliant. Too right, I’m not a dick.

THE WORST:

'Bored to Death' - Blink-182

This comeback
track from prehistoric pop-punk posterboys Blink-182 won’t bore you to death –
for one Travis Barker’s drumming is sounding flashy. Sadly, the lyrics are
anything but. I winced when I heard the ‘Life
is too short to last long’ line. Besides, the band missed a trick – it could
have been ‘life is too short, blink and
you’ll miss it’. Get it? Blink?
Well, I thought it was clever…